The challenges experienced by parents when parenting a child with hearing loss within a South African context

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the current study was to explore the challenges experienced by hearing parents when parenting a child with hearing loss. Using a qualitative purposive sampling design, interviews were conducted with 13 parents (9 mothers, 4 fathers) residing in Cape Town, South Africa. Four salient themes emerged, namely: 1) communication is difficult, hard, and frustrating; 2) lack of knowledge and information about hearing loss makes it difficult to parent; 3) little or no support makes for a lonely journey; and 4) support identified by parents for parents. The findings of the study have important implications for collaboration and partnerships between parents and health and family practitioners within South Africa for the design and development of supportive interventions for parents parenting a child with hearing loss.

KEYWORDS:

• Hearing parents
• a child with a hearing loss
• challenges
• experiences

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all of the parents who willingly shared their experiences with us.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no financial or personal relationships that may have inappropriately influenced them in writing this article.

Additional information

Funding

No funding for the study was received.